Oyindamola Ogunbowale
Nigerian music stars Burna Boy and Tems are set to represent the country on the global stage after securing three nominations at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Burna Boy leads the Nigerian contingent with two nominations, while Tems earned one, giving Nigerian music fans three categories to watch ahead of the prestigious ceremony.
Burna Boy’s nominations came from his collaboration with Colombian superstar Shakira on “Dai Dai”, the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The track is nominated for Best Collaboration and Best Latin.
Tems, meanwhile, received a nomination in the Best R&B category for “Raindance”, her collaboration with British rapper Dave.
The nominations add to the growing international recognition of Nigerian artistes, who continue to expand the reach of Afrobeats and other African sounds across the global music industry.
However, one notable talking point surrounding this year’s nominations is the absence of the Best Afrobeats category.
The category was introduced in 2023 as the global influence of Afrobeats continued to grow, but it has been omitted from this year’s awards. Its removal has sparked discussions among fans about the genre’s place in major international award ceremonies.
Despite the category’s absence, Burna Boy and Tems have secured nominations in broader international categories, highlighting the continued global appeal of Nigerian music.
Attention will now turn to the awards ceremony, where fans will be hoping the two Nigerian stars can convert their nominations into Moon Person trophies.
The 2026 MTV VMAs are scheduled to hold on September 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Burna Boy and Tems among the African stars competing for honours.
